Tuesday, April 2, 2013

Random Thoughts

Riddle (an old favorite): A man is on a trip with a fox, a goose, and a sack of corn. He comes upon a stream which he has to cross, and finds a tiny boat which he can use for the trip. The problem though, is that he can only take himself and either the fox, the goose, or the corn across at a time. It is not possible for him to leave the fox alone with the goose or the goose alone with the corn. How can he get all safely over the stream?

Provocative comment: Christianity is like a public swimming pool in that most of the noise comes from the shallow end.

Had a fine Easter. Went to the first service at my church, and after all those weeks of sorrow and penance, it was good to hear the Alleluias. And the church was made beautiful with lilies, tulips, hyacinth, and hydrangeas. Then there were eight of us for a great ham dinner at our apartment. Everything turned out really well, there was more than enough to eat, then two of us retreated to Ellen's office to watch anime, two of us sat down to read, and four of us came to the table to play a hilarious game of Pictionary. Funny how the simplest words in that game can sometimes be the hardest. For example, how would you draw a picture of “far” so that someone who had no idea what you were trying to illustrate would guess it?

Christian Hoff Sommers: “Talented young women who aspire to be rich and powerful would be advised to major in economics or electrical engineering rather than psychology or social work. They should be prepared to work 60 hours a week at the office rather than combining shorter hours with home, family, and other pursuits they find fulfilling. Those who stick with this course will find that their W-2s are equal to those of their male counterparts.” I would add medicine (with a specialty in surgery) to those majors. And, Sommers is not writing a universal truth, but how many rich social workers do you know?

It’s still cold out, and the trees are still bare. But last week, going in the barely-showing-dawn to water aerobics class, I heard a robin singing. Sometimes I wish I lived farther south; to read of those enjoying the crocus and forsythia already makes me a little envious. But I did hear a robin . . .

I took a couple of days off writing for Easter. Today I get back to it. I planted one clue last week, and now there’s another to slip by the unwary reader. And I need to refresh my knowledge of unusual poisons. The use of insulin, my first choice, seems a little contrived. I know there’s something better out there. But I need to find out if it is routinely looked for on autopsy and, if not, what might prompt an ME to look for it.

Answer to riddle: He will take the goose over first and come back. Then he will take the fox, and bring the goose back from the other side. On his next trip, he will take the corn and come back alone. Finally, he will take the goose over and the job is done!

Enjoyed your post, Monica. As always. Sounds like you had a relaxing holiday. Sometimes getting away from the plot is just the thing needed to give you fresh ideas. Also, have always loved that riddle and once had a group of kids I tutor act it out... it was sort of hilarious, wish we'd made a video.

Enjoyed your post, Monica. As always. Sounds like you had a relaxing holiday. Sometimes getting away from the plot is just the thing needed to give you fresh ideas. Also, have always loved that riddle and once had a group of kids I tutor act it out... it was sort of hilarious, wish we'd made a video.